CAF FORCE Test Calculator
Enter your results across all four FORCE Test components and see immediately whether you pass, meet the validated standard, or need improvement.
Standards drawn from canada.ca and DND published FORCE protocol documentation. Always confirm current standards at canada.ca — these can change.
Universal standards, no exceptions. The FORCE Test replaced the EXPRES (Physical Fitness Assessment) test in 2013. Standards are identical for all CAF members regardless of age or gender — a policy change that reflects the operational reality that the battlefield makes no accommodations.
Sandbag Lift (SBL)
Lift a 20 kg sandbag from the floor to shoulder height repeatedly. You have 3 minutes 45 seconds. Count every successful lift.
Intermittent Loaded Shuttles (ILS)
Wearing a 20 kg load-bearing vest, complete 20 laps of a 20 m shuttle course. The event is timed — all 20 laps must be completed without stopping.
Hand Grip Dynamometry (HGD)
Squeeze a hand-grip dynamometer as hard as possible with each hand separately. The score is the average of your right and left hand readings. Minimum combined average: 41.7 kg.
Sandbag Drag / Push (20 m)
Push 3 × 20 kg sandbags 20 m forward, then drag them 20 m back to the start. Must be completed within the allotted time. Simulates casualty evacuation under load.
All FORCE Test Standards — Universal (All CAF Members)
| Event | Minimum | Validated |
|---|---|---|
| Sandbag Lift (SBL) | 15 reps | 26 reps |
| Intermittent Loaded Shuttles (ILS) | 20 laps | 20 laps |
| Hand Grip Dynamometry (HGD) | 41.7 kg avg | — |
| Sandbag Drag/Push | Complete | Complete |
Source: canada.ca / Department of National Defence. Standards are universal — identical for all CAF members regardless of age or gender, effective 2013. Always verify at canada.ca before making service decisions.
What the FORCE Test Replaced — and Why
Before 2013, CAF used the EXPRES (Physical Fitness Assessment) system, which had age- and gender-adjusted standards. The shift to the FORCE Test represented a deliberate policy change: the CAF determined that operational tasks have fixed physical demands — a 20 kg casualty does not weigh less because the person dragging them is older or female.
The four FORCE events map directly to identified operational tasks: casualty extraction (Sandbag Drag), sustained loaded movement (ILS), equipment handling (Sandbag Lift), and grip strength for weapon handling and rope work (HGD).
Failing the FORCE Test triggers a mandatory remedial fitness plan. Repeated failures affect career progression. The validated standard (particularly the 26-rep SBL) is the threshold for deployment consideration.